re: An Updated List Of Things Miles Needs To Do To Become More "Saban Like"

quote:This will be a lengthy post. Don't read it if you are troubled by exposition.

I enjoy long reads.

quote:Applying the algorithm to Miles and LSU, it is worth noting again precisely what you conceded in your original post: that Alabama is a better program than LSU right now. Moreover, sane people will agree that Saban is a better coach than Miles. (The modfier "sane" is quite intentional - I know there are marginal ideologues who will still claim that Miles is "better" even if Saban hoists his third NC trophy in four years.) I've recited the litany of evidence before, but I'll do it again for the sake of thoroughness: NC's: Saban 3 Miles 1; SECCG's: Saban 3 Miles 2; Overall Undefeated Seasons: Saban 1 Miles 0; Undefeated Regular Seasons: Saban 2 Miles 1; Head to Head: Saban 4 Miles 3 (4-2 in last six excluding Saban's first year at Bama when he had none of his recruits; 2-0 in the last two games); Recruiting: Alabama's consensus class rating has exceeded LSU's in each year of Saban's Alabama tenure.

First off, when was Saban's other unbeaten regular season? I only recall 2009. He lost the SECCG in 2008, I can only assume you factor SECCG as post season. If so, cool.

Outside of that, I will concede that based on the pure numbers of NCs vs SEC titles, yes Saban is in the lead. Again, the point I'm making, is that in terms of coaching, etc, Saban and Miles aren't that far apart. Couple that with the fact that Saban has been granted Mulligans WITH his easy schedule, you clearly have a formula for success that I believe Miles could match.

Overall, IF you and I both agree they are great coaches, and IF we choose to disagree that Saban is MUCH better than Miles, while Saban is God, then I would not want to replace Miles at all given the circumstances I've stated. I think there is only one way to go as a fan, and that's backwards.

So, if it makes you happy, fine: Saban is God and he is perfect. When he loses he really wins and deserves all the accolades that come with making good on his redos.

Miles, while full of flaws, is right up there with Saban. Miles must take full responsibility of his losses and can't look back. At the end of the day, who do you replace #2 with, when you know you can't have #1? You don't.

Perhaps one day LSU will garner the same respect Bama does as a program. When that day comes, it will be Miles on Sportcenter begging for Mulligans while Sabans team is earning it on the field. Miles will take the Tigers, blast the Tide in the rematch, and LSU will be one step closer to the praise they so duly deserve. However, this day will never come. LSU will NEVER be the Brand Bama is, and Miles will continue to win under different standards/circumstances, which honesty, endear him more to me as a fan.

re: An Updated List Of Things Miles Needs To Do To Become More "Saban Like" (Posted on 11/29/12 at 3:41 pm to The312)

quote:If you don't believe that hiring a new coach is worth the risk, I think you have to (a) resign yourself to being happy with second best in the SEC West for the foreseeable future; (b) await the day that Miles improves and is able to supercede Saban and Alabama - dare I say that this position requires "rampant speculation and hope"; or (c) pray that Saban leaves Alabama.

Continuing the discussion bc it will be a long one:

A) When this playoff hits, I fully expect (though I know I will be crushed) for LSU to be given an opportunity to beat Bama in the post season. IF Miles can make good on it, attitudes will change quickly

B) You do that, until the Mulligan, Miles was 3-2 against Saban, correct? Saban evened it out then took the lead this year. Also, see the history of the games between Miles and Saban. You people act as if LSU is powerless against Bama when that isn't the case at all. If it weren't for Brand recognition, it's a 3-3 series head to head and 2-2 in NCs...

C) Saban will never leave Bama. Why should he now? Saban is smart enough to know what Brand Recognition has bought him. Did you see his comments recently about Florida? There's a reason Saban is being a hypocrite. He simply doesn't want other Conference Teams to garner the same treatment his program gets. Everyone else has to earn it, not him.

quote:Hypothetically, if LSU were a privately held concern and I owned one hundred percent of the voting stock, I would gamble. It's my personal view that the modern LSU has the fiscal resources, facilities, professionalism, and recruiting base to become a national championship dynasty. I believe there are a range of coaches who could succeed here on a national stage.

And here is where reality kicks in:

College football is a beauty contest. In the eyes of the people who hold the power, LSU is a nice contestent, but is a butterface bc she won't bring the ratings they want in the big game. Not to mention butterface represents the anus of the US. Yes, this is how LA is viewed in the world of journalism. Sad but true. Bama, on the other hand, is a beauty queen that hasn't aged in almost 40 years...

quote:However, I also recognize that, realistically, the LSU AD isn't going to voluntarily fire Miles so long as he is winning games. Consequently, the immediate future of the program will likely be as follows: LSU will retain Miles, Miles will continue to have good or even very good W-L records, Saban will remain a better coach than Miles overall, Alabama will remain a better program than LSU in the aggregate, LSU will be denied a dynasty while Alabama collects its crystal trophies.

I can see this happening as well, especially when the playoff hits. Bama will be able to finish third in the conference and still be forced in the playoff system in which they will make good. So, regardless of who our coach is here, they will have to get used to beating Bama twice a year come 2014. Beat them once to qualify for the SEC title and possible playoff, then beat them again in the playoff. Double standards suck, but that's college football today.

quote:That's not intended to be incendiary propoganda and shouldn't be recieved as such. It's just what has happened of late: LSU has had good seasons, Alabama has established a national championship dynasty

Yes, they have, while having arguably seasons that are worse than LSU's. Again, how does this not happen with a lot of luck? Why can't you people address this? It is obvious....

2011 - Worse season than LSU...win title 2012 - Play two ranked teams, lose one at home, play for title. LSU plays four ranked teams, splits (just like Bama), sit at home. UF actually has a bigger gripe this year.

quote:In the meantime - because ultimately it is the only option at my disposal - I'll continue to make my ragged sojourn to Tiger Stadium and various college towns throughout the south, I'll pour money into the program and bourbon down my gullet, I'll cheer as loudly as I can at games, and I'll hope against hope that the hand of genius belatedly annoints Miles and that he reverses the current hierarchy at the top of the SEC West.